UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING TO TAKE PLACE FRIDAY

On Friday, April 21, The United Way of Rockland County (UWRC) will hold its seventh Annual Spring Day of Caring event, which is known as one of the largest volunteer community service events in the entire county. This day brings together over 360 volunteers from local companies with students from RCC, St. Thomas Aquinas and Dominican Colleges for one common purpose: to donate their time and energy to local non-profits, which support individuals and families in need. 17 projects at 15 non-profits around Rockland will be completed thanks to these volunteers. “Donations are down. Without the help of these volunteers, these are projects that the agencies might not be able to otherwise afford. The Day of Caring is more critical now than ever,” said Dr. Lori Greene, UWRC Chairperson.

The day begins with a kickoff rally and lunch at 11:30 a.m. for the participating volunteers at Palisades Credit Union Park, home of the Rockland Boulders. Members of the United Way will take a moment to thank all the volunteers for their service and extend their gratitude to the sponsors for their support. A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to the college with the most volunteers. The check will be presented by our Scholarship Sponsor, Nice Pak/PDI of Orangeburg.

At the end of the rally, the volunteers report directly to their designated projects, which range from landscaping to power washing to painting. Each volunteer will be given a special shirt to commemorate their service, which lists the Day of Caring sponsors on the back. The shirt was designed by Jomar Gloder, an 11th grader, in his class at Rockland BOCES Career and Technical Education Center. His design was chosen from a field of entries by the UWRC Board of Directors. Jomar will be recognized during the rally by Pfizer of Pearl River, the T-Shirt Design Sponsor.

“I firmly believe that volunteers are the life blood of a community, and ours are proof that Rockland is a very caring community in which to live and work. We are especially grateful that the college students are involved and, in some cases, will be working side by side with the corporate volunteers,” said Mimi Vilord, President & CEO of United Way of Rockland. “Without our generous sponsors and the efforts of our volunteers, this day would not be possible.”